The Rose of Anthacena

Chapter 15

          About a month after she came to stay at Arin's home, Violet realized that she hadn't once set foot outside since she came through the front door. She figured that since she had spent so much time inside, it was not time for her to explore outside. This, she thought about one night as she lay in bed trying to go to sleep.

The next morning, instead of doing one of the three things she normally did, Violet bundled up against the cold weather and headed outside through the front door. She stopped right outside the door, the brisk air stinging her nose and cheeks, and looked at the white expanse that spread out before her.

There was absolutely nothing but white in the view that met her eyes. Snow covered everything in sight, and there were only a few trees to lend a bit of color to it. New snow had fallen since the day Violet had arrived, and so she could not even tell where the driveway was by her footprints.

Far off in the distance, Violet caught sight of what she thought might be the fence. She wasn't sure, though, because it was so far away. However, she decided that since she had all morning, she may as well go find out. So she started wading slowly through the two-foot deep snow towards the horizon.

Because the snow was so deep, Violet's legs grew tired altogether too soon, and she collapsed onto her back with her arms spread out. She lay there for a moment or two before waving her arms and legs to make a snow angel. Once she was finished, she lay for a long time, breathless at first, staring up at the winter-blue sky.

After a while, Violet stood up carefully, trying not to mar the snow angel she had made. Brushing off the snow that clung to her clothing, she looked down at it and smiled. it had been so long since she had played in the snow! It felt-good. It felt really good.

Violet glanced back at the house. She had walked a long way (her legs testified to this!), but it was still fairly close. Sighing, she turned and kept walking towards what she figured was the fence.

A very long hour passed, and a breathless Violet reached the fence at last. She gave a deep sigh as she reached out and touched the metal. Keeping her hand on it, she walked to the right, looking beyond the fence as she did so. The road was close enough that she could see it. Enough cars had traveled over it since the last snowfall that no snow was left on it, and it was nothing but a dark ribbon running across a white background.

Violet kept walking, and after about ten minutes, she came to the gates. She grabbed the bars with both hands and pressed her face against them, looking out at the place where she had told her father goodbye-perhaps forever. Then a sudden thought came into her head. It might not be forever, after all.

She whipped her head around and stared back at the house. It was just a dark spot against so much white. Turning back to the gate, she looked back at the road that lay just beyond her reach, her thoughts racing, and her breath coming in short bursts.

There was nobody watching her. The house was far away enough that no one would be able to see her if she left. Her hands gripped the gates more tightly, her mind on the family she could return to-if only she opened the gates. If only. All it took was one motion, and she could be free. She could take back her freedom! Freedom was such a lovely word-so full of meaning. Free. Free. Free...

Violet's hands fell from the gates, and she let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding. She stared ahead of her, but didn't really see what was there. She couldn't leave. She just-couldn't do it. There was something holding her back. Something she couldn't name, but that had-an inexplicable power over her. And it wasn't about to let her go through those gates.